Improvement in spring-locks for plows



M. K. WHEAT.

V SPRING-LOCKS FOR FLOWS. No.173,873. Patented Feb. 22, 1876.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGHAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

. MILToN K. WHEAT, OF PARIS, KENTUoKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-LOCKS FOR PLOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,873, dated February22 1876 application filed January 22, 1876.

. To all whom it may concern: I

plow-beam to which my improvement has been applied. Fig. 2 is a sectionof the same, taken through the line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section ofthe same, taken through the line y y, Fig.1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved device forholding the plow-plate of cultivator-s, drills, and shovelplows in pfacewhen at work, insuch a way that, should the plow-plate strike anobstruction, it will swing back and thus prevent it from being broken,and which shall be simple in construction, convenient in use, strong,durable, not liable to get out of order, and reliable in operation.

The inventionv consists in the spring lockbars, provided with shouldersat their upper ends, pivoted to the plow-beam or the plowstandard, andhaving the plow-plate attached to their lower ends, as hereinafter fullydescribed.

A represents a plow-beam, the rear end of which is curved downward, toserve as a standard, or has a standard attached to it, and which may bemade of wood or iron. B are two spring-bars, which are pivoted to theopposite sides of the lower end of the beam A, and the lower ends ofwhich project below the lower end of the beam A, and to them, or to aseat attached to them, is bolted the plowplate 0. 7

Several holes may be formed in the lower part of the beam A, to receivethe pivotingbolt of the spring-bars'B, so that the plow may be adjustedto work deeper or shallower in the ground, as may be desired.

The spring-bars B project upward along the opposite sides of the beam A,and their upper ends are bent to the rearward and haveinwardly-projecting shoulders 12 formed upon them, to overlap the rearedge of the beam A, and resist the draft-strain upon the plow G.

' Should the plow O strike an obstruction, the shoulders b will slip offthe edge of the beam A and allow the plow O to swing back, to preventany part of the plow from being broken. After the obstruction has beenpassed, a slight push upon the plow O by the plowman, with his foot,will throw it back into working position. As the plow 0 comes intoworking position, and the shoulders I) spring into place at the rearedge of the beam A, the rear edges of the springbars B strike againstprojections or other stops a", formed upon or attached to the rear edgeof the beam A, to prevent the plow G from swinging too far forward.

The spring-bars B may be adjusted to yield at any desired resistance byset-screws D, that pass in through the said bars B, and rest against thesides of the beam A, so that, by adjusting the said screws D, theshoulders b maybe adjusted to overlap the edge of said beam more orless, as may be desired, according as the plow is to work in hard-orloose soil. The screw D also enables the wear to be taken up, to preventthe said wear from causing the shoulders I) to yield too easily.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent- The spring lockbars B, provided with the shoulders bat their upper ends, pivoted to the plow-beam A or the plow-standard,and having the plow-plate 0 attached to their.

lower ends, substantially as herein shown and described.

MILTON KEN EDY WHEAT. Witnesses J. 'E. PAToN, RUSSELL MANN.

